The X Factor's Cheryl Cole will no longer sit beside Simon Cowell, L.A. Reid and Paula Abdul at the judges' table, TMZ reports.
A source close to Cole tells Us Weekly that "it's true. She isn't on the show anymore. Everyone is gobsmacked. This came out of nowhere. She had already been tested countless times. Simon had nothing to do with it. This is the network's doing."
Adds a second insider, "I feel really sorry for her."
No word yet on why the 27-year-old Brit is out, but a source claims former Pussycat Dolls singer and Dancing With the Stars champ Nicole Scherzinger, 32, is slated to take her spot. The "Poison" singer was previously hired to co-host the show with Steve Jones.
Auditions for the American version of The X Factor began in L.A. March 27; the show will begin airing in September.
Cole's rep was unavailable for comment.